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NEW YORK, Aug. 7-- Davyd Booth, a violinist and second keyboard player with The Philadelphia Orchestra, has set a record that few other U.S. musicians can compete with. His interaction with the Chinese counterparts can date back to nearly half a century ago. For a span of the past 46 years, Booth has toured China for 12 times. More than two months after the 69-year-old finished the latest visit to China with his orchestra, the thrill never waned. "China has started what has turned out to be one of the largest international piano competitions, and we played the final concert with the finalists. It was really very exciting," Booth expounded with Xinhua the impressive moments during the trip. The veteran musician said he appreciated to have been invited to the joint performance, adding that such kind of collaboration is crucial to people-to-people connection between the United States and China. "It just cemented even further the really very important and wonderful relationship that The Philadelphia Orchestra has with China," said Booth. Founded in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra is renowned for a long and distinguished history of touring the world. The orchestra's lasting ties with China mark a significant chapter in its century-old history. In 1973, at the invitation by then U.S. President Richard Nixon, it became the first American orchestra to visit the People's Republic of China -- a trip considered a key part of Washington's rapprochement with Beijing in the 1970s. | 
